Calibrachoa plant named ‘Sunbelhopi’

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a new and distinct variety of  Calibrachoa  plant having a spreading growth habit. The  Calibrachoa  plant has abundant branching, and a great profusion of blooms, the whole plant remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time. The flowers are single and small, the petals having a vivid reddish purple color. The inside color of the corolla throat is vivid yellow and the outside of the corolla tube is brilliant greenish yellow with dark grayish reddish brown vein. The plant exhibits high resistance to heat, cold, rain and disease.

Botanical/commercial classification: Calibrachoa sp./Calibrachoa Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Sunbelhopi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new variety of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., originated from crossing of a Calibrachoa hybrid variety called ‘P5’ as the female parent and ‘E10’ as the male parent.

The female parent ‘P5’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Sunbelhopi’ is a strain of our breeding lines, having an outwardly spreading growth habit with abundant branching. It has small single flowers, the petals having a vivid reddish purple color.

The male parent ‘E10’ (unpatented) used in the crossing of ‘Sunbelhopi’ is a strain of our breeding lines, having a spreading growth habit with abundant branching. It has small single flowers, the petals having a light yellowish pink color.

In April 1999, crossing of ‘P5’ as the female parent and ‘E10’ as the male parent was conducted at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan. Seedlings were obtained from that crossing and were grown in pots in glasshouses and were evaluated from October 1999. One seedling was selected in view of its growth habit, flower size and color in August 2000. That seedling was propagated by cutting and a trial was carried out by flower potting and bedding from April to November 2001. The botanical characteristics of that plant were then examined, using similar varieties ‘Sunbelchipi’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,355) and ‘Sunbelrikupi’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,729) for comparison. As a result, it was concluded that this Calibrachoa plant is distinguishable from any other variety, whose existence is known to us, and is uniform and stable in its characteristics. Then the new variety of Calibrachoa plant was named ‘Sunbelhopi’.

In the following description, the color-cording is in accordance with the Horticultural Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England (R.H.S. Colour Chart).

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

This new variety in unlike any Calibrachoa commercially available as evidenced by the following unique combinations of characteristics.

-   -   1. Compact and spreading growth habit with abundant branching.     -   2. Having a great profusion of blooms with the entire plant         remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time.     -   3. The flowers are single and small. The petal color is vivid         reddish purple (near R.H.S. N74A).     -   4. The plant has a high resistance to rain, cold, heat and         disease.

The new variety ‘Sunbelhopi’ differs from the similar variety ‘Sunbelchipi’ in the following points.

-   -   1. The flower diameter of ‘Sunbelhopi’ is larger than that of         ‘Sunbelchipi’.     -   2. The petal color of ‘Sunbelhopi’ is vivid reddish purple (near         R.H.S. N74A) where that of ‘Sunbelchipi’ is vivid purplish red         (near R.H.S. N57A).     -   3. The apex shape of petal of ‘Sunbelhopi’ is rounded while that         of ‘Sunbelchipi’ is obtuse.

The new variety ‘Sunbelhopi’ differs from the similar variety ‘Sunbelrikupi’ in the following points.

-   -   1. The growth habit of ‘Sunbelhopi’ is spreading while that of         ‘Sunbelrikupi’ is decumbent.     -   2. The plant height of ‘Sunbelhopi’ is higher than that of         ‘Sunbelrikupi’.     -   3. The leaf of ‘Sunbelhopi’ is longer than that of         ‘Sunbelrikupi’.     -   4. The apex shape of petal of ‘Sunbelhopi’ is rounded while that         of ‘Sunbelrikupi’ is obtuse.

The new variety of Calibrachoa plant ‘Sunbelhopi’ was asexually reproduced by the use of cuttings at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, and the homogeneity and stability thereof were confirmed. The instant plant retains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The depicted plants had been reproduced by the use of cuttings and were photographed during August 2001 while growing outdoors in 18 cm pots at an age of approximately 7 months at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga, Japan.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical plant of the new variety of Calibrachoa plant ‘Sunbelhopi’ growing in a pot.

FIG. 2 is a close view of typical blossoms of the new variety of Calibrachoa plant ‘Sunbelhopi’.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIETY

The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Sunbelhopi’ are as follows when observed during December at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, at an age of approximately 11 months.

-   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Spreading.         -   Plant height.—Approximately 25.5 cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—Approximately 40.5 cm.         -   Blooming period.—April to late October in the southern Kanto             area, Japan. The plant shape does not change throughout this             period. -   Stem:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 13.7 cm.         -   Thickness.—Approximately 2.0 mm.         -   Pubescence.—Normal.         -   Branching.—Abundant branching, especially secondary             branches.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 1.3 cm.         -   Color.—Near R.H.S. 177B (grayish reddish brown). -   Leaf:     -   -   Whole shape.—Elliptic. The apex shape is acute, and the base             shape is attenuate.         -   Length.—Approximately 4.8 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.6 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side color is near R.H.S. 144A (strong yellow             green), lower side color is near R.H.S. 146B (moderate             yellow green).         -   Thickness.—Approximately 0.3 mm.         -   Pubescence.—Sparse. -   Flower:     -   -   Facing direction.—Slanted upward.         -   Type.—Single.         -   Shape.—Funnel-shaped, with five-fissures.         -   Shape of petal tip.—Rounded.         -   Lobation.—Shallow.         -   Waviness of petal.—Weak.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 4.0 cm.         -   Depth.—Approximately 2.5 cm.         -   Tube length.—Approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—Distal end — approximately 1.0 cm.         -   Tube diameter.—Proximal end — approximately 2.0 mm.         -   Color.—Petal; near R.H.S. N74A (vivid reddish purple).             Inside color of the corolla tube is near R.H.S. 9A (vivid             yellow). Outside color of the corolla throat is near R.H.S.             5C (brilliant greenish yellow) with venation near R.H.S.             200B (dark grayish reddish brown). -   Petals:     -   -   Width.—Approximately 1.7 cm.         -   Length from throat.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Very broadly obovate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Lower surface, near R.H.S. N74B with near R.H.S. N77A             venation. -   Buds:     -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 5.0 mm.         -   Color.—Towards apex, Near R.H.S. 70B; base, near R.H.S.             145C; Venation, near R.H.S. N77A.         -   Reproductive organs.—1 normal pistil and 5 normal stamens.             The stigma is club-shaped and near R.H.S. N144D (light             yellow green) in coloration. The style is approximately 4.7             mm in length and near R.H.S. 145B (brilliant yellow green)             in coloration. The ovary is near R.H.S. N144D (light yellow             green) in coloration. The stamens commonly are of variable             length from approximately 4.7 to 7.4 mm. Pollen is formed in             a quantity that is typical of Calibrachoa and is near             R.H.S.21A (vivid orange yellow) in coloration.         -   Fertility.—Fertile, but self-incompatible.         -   Peduncle.—Approximately 0.6 mm in diameter and approximately             1.6 cm in length. The texture is smooth.         -   Color.—Near R.H.S. 144B.         -   Calyx.—Narrow. 5 sepals in fused at the base. -   Sepals:     -   -   Shape.—Narrow elliptic.         -   Apex shape.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 3.5 mm.         -   Color.—Upper surface — near R.H.S. 137B; lower surface —             near R.H.S. 137C.         -   Seeds.—Near R.H.S. N186A (strong red) in coloration,             approximately 0.6 mm in diameter, and generally round. The             quantity is typical of Calibrachoa. -   Physiological and ecological characteristics: High resistance to     cold, heat, rain and disease, such as Powdery mildew. The resistance     to heat and rain is very strong.

This new variety of Calibrachoa plant is most suitable for flower bedding and potting, particularly in hanging pots or planters. Pinching of old blossoms will enhance the formation of new blossoms. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Sunbelhopi’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 